Woods Of Desolation grabbed my attention with its name, promising a bleak, atmospheric and utterly black sound, the one I loved since I unknowingly dived into the world of black metal, a dozen years ago.

I discovered this band only recently, some would say to my regret, but I say no! And if you perhaps like your metal to be black and haven't heard anything from this band, take a crucial step and listen to this album before their previous one, Torn Beyond Reason. The reason I say this, is because TBR is a masterpiece and, if regarding the fine nuances of black metal, a completely different direction and execution. Your subsequent reception of As The Stars may be heavily muffled as having expectations often does and as it happened after it was released.

Nice work and a bit weaker than the excellent, previous one. Also, you can see a small change on musical direction. It's closer to Agalloch and Alcest now, with more melodic elements.
Highlights (i dont like this term or to choosing tracks but in this album there is some notable work):
01. Like Falling Leaves
04. This Autumn Light
05. Anamnesis (omg what a song...)

Nice work and a bit weaker than the excellent, previous one. Also, you can see a small change on musical direction. It's closer to Agalloch and Alcest now, with more melodic elements.
Highlights (i dont like this term or to choosing tracks but in this album there is some notable work):
01. Like Falling Leaves
04. This Autumn Light
05. Anamnesis (omg what a song...)

I agreed with you and I also think that Anamnesis and This Autumn Light are amazing songs.

I echo Innerself statement, best mature record to date from WOD. Also enjoy the slightly murkier production this time around. Unfold is probably their most epic song to date along with darker days from TBR.

Written by Boxcar Willy on 14.04.2014 at 04:42You're all mad, TBR trumps this in every category.

Agreed. I was expecting to love this the minute I heard it but it has the same problem as modern Drudkh or Old Man's Key or whatever else (having trouble thinking of names at the moment). Definitely a drop compared to its predecessor.

Written by no one on 14.04.2014 at 05:07so was i, but it actually took me a few more listens than T.B.R

There's just too much filler for me. I know I like the first track and one of them closer to the end was notably stronger in terms of atmosphere than the rest, but everything outside of that just seemed... wishy-washy? It was forgettable the first time I heard it and didn't have a lasting impression on me over the following two-and-a-half attempts either. I don't hate it or think it's terrible, it just sounds really average.

Written by no one on 14.04.2014 at 05:07so was i, but it actually took me a few more listens than T.B.R

There's just too much filler for me. I know I like the first track and one of them closer to the end was notably stronger in terms of atmosphere than the rest, but everything outside of that just seemed... wishy-washy? It was forgettable the first time I heard it and didn't have a lasting impression on me over the following two-and-a-half attempts either. I don't hate it or think it's terrible, it just sounds really average.

could say the same thing about torn beyond reason, the first two songs and the last are really good, but the ones in between sounded very similar and felt like fill ins. Though i like both albums, if he took his time and put the best songs from both albums into one....would maybe be the first album i would have ever given a 10!

I often find myself humming the tremolo melodies from a bunch of songs from this album, it definitely left a instant big impression on me after the first listen and I still play it every couple of days.